Joseph Orgill III biography: 13 things about Memphis, Tennessee businessman

Orgill, Inc. has announced the passing of its former president and chairman, Joseph “Joe” Orgill III. https://t.co/O4GDJ5cFu8 #Orgill pic.twitter.com/4uM88jj3XA

— Hardlines Inc. (@Hardlinesnews) March 14, 2018

Who was Joseph Orgill III?

Joseph Orgill III was an American hardware businessman and philanthropist from Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States who enjoyed spending time in Charlevoix, Michigan, USA. He was the only son of Joseph Orgill Jr. and Kate Bond Smith Orgill.

In 1955, Joseph Jr. became the president of Orgill Brothers & Co, a hardware firm founded in 1847 and based in Collierville, Shelby County. Joseph III first joined the company as a salesman.

In 1958, Joseph III’s wife Irene Leatherman Orgill was crowned the 24th Queen of Carnival in Memphis. In 1959, she gave birth to their daughter Adele Leatherman Orgill.

In 1979, Adele served as Queen Isis XL of the Grand Krewe of Osiris in Memphis. In 1987, Joseph III and Irene’s daughter Anne Leatherman Orgill served as Queen Isis XL of the Grand Krewe of Osiris in Memphis.

Adele and James Beasley Wellford have a son named Gil Wellford and a daughter named Eliza Wellford Fletcher, who is married to Richard James Fletcher. In 2008, Eliza served as Queen Isis LXVIII of the Grand Krewe of Osiris in Memphis.

Irene and Joseph III have a daughter also named Irene Leatherman Orgill. The daughter and Fred Smith have a son named Freddy Orgill Smith and a daughter named Kate Orgill Smith, who served as Queen Isis LXIX of the Grand Krewe of Osiris in Memphis in 2009.

In 2012, Michael J. Buttarazzi and Kate Orgill‘s daughter Annie Orgill Buttarazzi served as Queen Isis LXXII of the Grand Krewe of Osiris in Memphis. Kate is also Joseph III and Irene’s daughter.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Joseph III was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Memphis. He was an inaugural inductee into the Home Channel Hall of Fame and served as the Society of Entrepreneurs president in Memphis. 

Joseph III served as First Tennessee Bank director, chairman of the board of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens and chairman of the board of the Church Health Center, which was renamed Church Health. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. In 1955, he graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Litchfield County, Connecticut, USA.
2. In 1958, he married Irene.
3. In 1959, he graduated from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
4. In 1961, Irene gave birth to their daughter also named Irene.
5. In 1966, Irene gave birth to their daughter Anne.
6. In 1968, Irene gave birth to their daughter Kate.
7. In 1968 to 1980, he was the Orgill Brothers & Co. president.
8. On January 12, 1980, his father died at age 76.
9. In 1981, he asked Bill Fondren to take over as Orgill Brothers & Co. president as part of a succession plan to shift the company into professional management.
10. From 1981 to 2005, he served as chairman of the board in Orgill Brothers & Co.
11. In 1985, he and his cousin Michael McDonnell bought out the other Orgill Brothers & Co. shares, making them the only Orgill family members still active at the business and in 1996, the company officially changed its name to Orgill, Inc.
12. In 2017, he turned 80.
13. On March 12, 2018, he died at Baptist Hospital in Memphis after a brief illness.